August2016

No.117

TheOrthodoxParish
oftheHolyandLifeGivingCross,
Lancaster,U.K.

TheStavronian

amonthlymagazine&newsletterpublishedbythe'HolyCrossSynodia'

TheParishoftheHolyandLifeGivingCross,
belongstotheAntiochianOrthodoxChristianArchdioceseoftheBritishIslesandIreland.
ThePatriarchateofAntiochisthirdsenioroftheOrthodoxChurches.
ThePatriarchisHisBeatitudeJohnX.

ThediscipleswerefirstcalledChristiansinAntioch
(Acts11:26)

THEMODELOFPRAYER
Chapter5;Giveusthisdayourdaily
bread
TasteandseethattheLordisgood
Sufficient unto the day are the evils
thereof and sufficient unto the day are
theblessings.OurLordwantsustolive
sufficient to our needs in the present
momentwhich istheonly moment that
wecanfullybealive.Weshouldnotlive
inthepastwithitsregretsorinthefuture
with its dreams. Now, today is the
intersectionoftimeandeternity.
IntheExodusweseewhathappened
tothepeopleofIsraelinthedesertwhen
they gathered too much manna for the
next day it went rotten and became
mouldy(Exodus16).Theidealistolivea
faithsustainedbyGodastheliliesofthe
fieldandthebirdsoftheair.
We should ask, indeed demand like
children who say give us, the verb in
Hebrew ten lanu is an imperative. Our
Lordteachesthatweshouldaskforthose
thingsthat areneedful notsimply what
we want or what we would like. The
Hebrew lechem chucheinu reflects the
request found in the wisdom book of
Proverbs 30:8; Give me neither poverty
norriches,butprovidemewithmydaily
bread. God has engraved into our very
nature and being a need for food and
waterandaneedforHimhereinthis
simplerequestweaddressthecreatorof
oursoulsandthesustainerofourbodies.
Psalm145:1516;Theeyesofalllookto
you,andyougivethemtheirfoodindue
season. You open your hand, satisfying
thedesireofeverylivingthing.
AnoldRabbi,whenaskedwhatthe
meaningwasintheCreationstoryofthe
serpents curse to eat earth answered:
Humans arecondemned toeatbreadby
the sweat of their brow, so that if they

wearyoftheirlabourstheywillcryoutto
God. Especially in their distress they
remainlinkedtoGod.ButGodhasgiven
theserpenteverythingitneeds,sothatit
willneverturntoHimagain.
We turn to God in conversation, in
guilttoanswerHim,inangertoquestion
Him,inwondertoglorifyHim.TheKing
and Prophet David expresses the whole
gamutofhumanemotionsbutinatender
moment of exaltation he expresses the
offeringofhisheart: Psalm19:14 ;Let
thewordsofmyheartbeacceptableinThy
sight,OLord,myrockandmyredeemer.
InHebrewthewordformeditationis

(hagah) in Greek . The

Hebrewhastheconnotationtospellout
like a child learning a new word who
speaksitoutloud,letterbyletter.Aswe
speakthewordwealsoingestanddigest
thesweetdelightofthefoodfromheaven
wesavourthewordofGod.TheGreek
indicatestocareforsomething,todevise
a plan with practice and to exercise
oneselfinstudy.Meditationisnotsimply
a mental exercise, it has an emotional
andspiritualcontent;thefathersteachus
that it has the effect of stamping an
indeliblesealinourconscienceandthat
itwhyweshouldlimitmeditationtothe
wordofGod.InPlatonicthoughttheidea
must have a word (logos) and a word
musthave aconceptbutthePsalmsgo
furthertoreflecthumanneedsinrespect
tothenatureandpurposesofGod:Psalm
119:105;Yourwordisalamptomyfeet
andalighttomypath.
Themoreweponderonthewordthe
clearer our path becomes. Metropolitan
AnthonyofSourzozhrecountinghisown
conversiontoChristsatdowntoreadthe
GospelofSt.Mark.Hereaditmoreasa
challengetodiscardwhathebelievedat
thetimeitsfalseclaimsbutbytheendof
the first chapter he found himself in
tears. He became aware with total
certainty of the presence of Christ

standingontheothersideofthedeskto
wherehewasreading.Hesawnothing,
heard nothingbut Christs presence was
real; real and certain enough to change
the direction of Metropolitan Anthonys
lifeforever.
In 1984 an English actor Alec
McCowenreceivedworldwideacclaimfor
hisonemanperformanceoftherecitation
ofthewholeof StMarksGospel.Years
later he found himself reciting it when
goingforwalksand wascalled uponto
performitagainsuchwasthestunning
effectithadontheaudiences.
Another Mark, St Mark the Ascetic
who was born in Athens in the fifth
centuryandlivedintheEgyptiandesert
asamonktoaveryoldagecouldrecite
byheartallfourGospelsaswellasmany
other books from the Old and New
Testament!
Memoryandmeditationthereforeare
related,theystandasservantstoreceive
Christ.Throughreadingthescriptureswe
cometoknowthemandaswecometo
knowthemtheybecomeourdailybread.
Itisno wonderthatbeforehisministry
whenOurLordwastemptedheanswered
and said: Matthew 4:4; It is written,
Manshallnotlivebybreadalone,butby
everywordthatproceedsfromthemouth
ofGod.
Itisnocoincidenceeitherthatwhen
describing the Kingdom of Heaven, Our
LordcomparesittoaWeddingBanquet
to which we are all invited (Matthew
22:214).
Breadisthemostbasicsubstancefor
sustaining our body and it is also the
substance which becomes the body of
Christ.TheGreektextinfacthasthisin
mind when it uses the word epiousios
literally above the essence or super
substantialthebreadisnotonlythebread
for today but for eternal life. Our daily
bread is invested by the Holy Spirit. At
theHolyLiturgy,thepriestasksthatthe
HolySpiritmaycomeuponusandupon

thesegiftsherespreadforth.Suchbread
isprovidessustenanceforeternallife.It
islivingbread.Itisnotsimplythebread
which keeps our mortal body alive and
providesforourphysicalhealth,itisthe
breadofimmortalityfortheeternalday
of the Kingdom of God. Does not Our
Lord say of himself I am the bread of
Life.(John6:27)andthebreadwhich
IgiveforthelifeoftheworldisMyflesh
(John6:48,51)?
John Keble an Anglican priest and
poet, one of the leaders of the Oxford
Movementofthe19thc.oncewrotethis
abouttheEucharist:
Whatisthissilentmight,makingourdarknesslight,
Newwineourwaters,heavenlybloodourwine?
Christ,andhisMotherdear,andallhissaints,arehere;
Andwheretheyareisheaven,andwhattheytouch,divine.

Weareaskingforspiritual food,as
well as that which is necessary for our
physical well being. In the original
Hebrew Aramaic the words indicate a
wish for Our bread which is from the
Earth which forms a parallel in classic
psalmicpoeticmetertoOurFatherwhois

inHeaven.Godsconcernisforthewhole
person:mind,body,heartandsoul.
AttheDivineLiturgy,Christcomesto
us under the forms of Bread and Wine.
ThisistheBreadofLifeandtheDivine
Blood Transfusion to transform and
transfigureusintoHislikeness.Ourown
theosisisaprocessratherlikethebaking
of bread. Evangelia Stergiou in her
beautifularticleonBreaddrawsstrongly
fromthispassage intheDidacheof the
TwelveApostles:
~+~
,

.
,
. , , , . .
,
!
, . ' . .

.
! (
, 9, 4. www.pigizois.gr).
Itwaswheat,sownonmountainsandra
vines.Itwasharvested,milled,kneaded,
turned into bread. We blessed it and it
was sanctified and became the body of
Christ. We, too, are scattered, Lord. On
mountains and ravines. Gather us
roundyou,Lord.Poundus.Turnusinto
bread. Make us all one in Your Church
and sanctify us. Take us to Your King
dom! (Didache of the 12 Apostles, 9,4;
fromwww.pigizois.gr).
Change
Ilovebread.Breadisrarelytheprotagonist
of a meal. It will be there, next to your
plate,asanourishingaccompaniment,asa

tooltohelpyoueatyourfoodwith.Bread
ishumble,yetessential,attheheartofthe
HolyCommunion,theessentialmomentof
changingbyThyHolySpirit.
We dont always welcome change in
ourlife,weoftenresentitorresistit,even
thoughitisunavoidable.Ireadsomewhere
that sin is surprisingly conservative; it
meansrefusingtogrow;tochange.
Bread possesses a changing nature:
from seed to plant, from wheat to flour,
fromflourtodough,fromdoughtobread,
frombreadtonourishment,fromnourish
menttolife,fromeverydaycommoncom
modity to prosforo, from prosforo to the
Body of Christ. Humble bread turns to
HolyBread;itturnsintoabridgebetween
heavenandearth.ChristoffersusHisHoly
Body. Man takes a part of creation and
changesit,throughhislabour,thenoffers
itbacktotheCreator,ThyownofThine
ownweofferThee.
Ialsoreadrecently(TheApplesofthe
Cook,p.18),thatintheoldtimespeople
called the prosforo Panagia, Mother of
God, humanitys offer to God, which,
amongotherthings,mademethinkthat
the word prosforo comes from the word
,prosfero=tooffer).
~+~
We are encumbered by so many
possessions, weighed down by so many
cares. This simple request asks only for
thatwhichisessential.Thelinebetween
whatwewantandwhatweneedisclear.
But seek first His kingdom and His
righteousness,andallthesethingsshallbe
yoursaswell.Therefore,donotbeanxious
about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be
anxiousforitself.Lettheday'sowntrouble
be sufficient for the day (Matthew 6:33
34).
Tobecontinued
FrJonathan

SAYINGSOFTHEFATHERS
Amanwhoiswrathfulwithusisasick
man;wemustapplyaplastertohisheart
love; we must treathim kindly, speak to
him gently, lovingly. And if there is not
deeplyrooted malice against us within
him,butonlyatemporaryfitofanger,you
willseehowhisheart,orhismalice,will
meltawaythroughyourkindnessandlove
howgoodwillconquerevil.AChristian
mustalwaysbekind,gracious,andwisein
ordertoconquerevilbygood.
St.JohnofKronstadt,MyLifein
Christ
YoubelievethatGodisone.Youdowell.
The demons also believe, and they
tremble.(James2:19).
They alone know how to believe in God
wholoveGod,whoareChristiansnotonly
innamebutalsoinactionand[wayof]
life, because without love faith is empty.
With love,itisthefaithofaChristian
withoutlove,thefaithofademon.
TheVenerableBede,"Commentaryon
James"

TOWEROFBABEL
Genesis11:4;Andtheysaid,Come,letus
buildourselvesacity,andatowerwhose
topisintheheavens;letusmakeaname
for ourselves, lest we bescattered abroad
overthefaceofthewholeearth.
ThephraseTowerofBabeldoesnot
appearintheBible;itisalwaysthecity
and its tower ( (


--

--
) or

justthecity(
) .

Somepeoplethinkintermsofshort
term investments. Others think in terms
oflongtermgains,Christiansmustthink
intermsofeternity.
Matthew19:2324;ThenJesussaidto
Hisdisciples,Assuredly,Isaytoyouthat

it is hard for a rich man to enter the

Kingdom of Heaven. And again I say to
you,itiseasierforacameltogothrough
theeyeofaneedlethanforarichmanto
enterthekingdomofGod.
FrJonathan

AFEWPALS
Thehopedforfruitofyouthfulvigournevergrew,
Greenshootswerescytheddowninboomingsound,
Whenthesapofsweetbloodoflifegushedout
Upontheground
Theirprayersandearsattentivetothegreatcommand
Forthoseindeeptrenchespreparingforthefoe,
alacunaofthesecondhandonpocketwatch,
Timetogo!
Emptiedsandoftimefromthesmashedhourglass
Droppedbypropagandainsynonymsforkill,
Brokenglassofbodiesliesstrewnuponthemud
Splintered,still!
A million grieving mothers send up their pain to
heaven.
Theirhymnsaresettominorkeysofshriekandmoan
Whilstbuildersplanformonumentsamillionnames
InPortlandstone.
Theblossomofmansignorance;abitterflower.
Darknarcissusandfoxglovegrowwithlossoftruth,
Wisdomsacrificedonaltarofpowerandboast,
Aswellasyouth.

FrJonathan

IOCSCONFERENCE
DearFriends,
Wehavethepleasuretoremindyou
of our forthcoming Conference on 'Con
temporary Fathers and Mothers of the
Church:GuidesforTodaysWorld',which
will take place between 2931 August
2016 at Sidney Sussex College in Cam
bridge. You can find details about our
Conferenceonourwebsitehere.
Ourannualconferencewillofferas
alwaysastimulatingtheologicalforum
of lectures and discussions, a friendly
relaxedatmosphereandagreatopportu
nitytospendacreativeandinspirational
summer break in Cambridge. You can
enrolormakeinitialpaymentonlinehere
orsimplysendusanemail,orcalluson
01223741037.Wewould behappyto
assistwithanyquestionsyoumayhave,
sopleasedonothesitatetocontactus.
Withourwarmestwishes,asever,
InChrist,
DrRazvanPorumb:grp29@cam.ac.uk
InstituteforOrthodoxChristianStudies
2527HighStreet,Chesterton
CambridgeCB41NQ,UnitedKingdom

SUMMERCELTIC
PILGRIMAGES
Every year, the Monastery of All Celtic
SaintsinMull,organisesseveralSummer
PilgrimagestotheCelticIslesofScotland.
We visit some of the most remote and
authentic places connected with early
Celtic Christianity. Someof theseplaces
havebeenuninhabitedforcenturies!The
pilgrimages organised by the Monastery
are the only way one can visit some of
theseislesand areorganised to support
the Monastery in order to bring us one
stepclosertohavingitbuiltbytheendof

2018.ThenextPilgrimageisgoingtobe
held in August 1320. Please write to
ierom.serafim@yahoo.co.uk if you are
interested tojoin.Forfurtherinformati
on,pleaseclickhere.

NAMESOFDEPARTED
LOVEDONESTOBE
REMEMBEREDTHISMONTH
Aug.29:Angelos
MEMORY ETERNAL!
Pleasesendusthenamesofyourdepar
ted loved onesand dateoftheirdepar
tureinorderforthemtoberemembered.

PARISHNEWS
WewouldliketothankIoanaandAurica
for cleaning and repairing the Church
Vestments; their help is always much
appreciated. May our Lord and Saviour
givethereward!

PhotoofParishmemberstakenonSunday
the24thofJulyaftertheHolyLiturgy.

MAJORCELEBRATIONSTHIS
MONTH
th
6Aug:TheHolyTransfigurationofour
LordandSaviourJesusChrist
th
13Aug:St.Tikhon,BishopofVoronezh,
WonderworkerofZadonskandAllRussia
th
15Aug:TheDormitionofourMostHoly
Theotokos
th
16Aug:St.Gerasimus,Wonderworkerof
Cephalonia

th
20Aug:St.Oswin,KingandMartyr
(651)
th
24Aug:St.CosmasofAetolia,equalto
theApostles
st
31Aug:St.Aidan,BishopofLindisfarne
(651).

For the lives of Saints please visit the

CalendaroftheGreekOrthodoxArchdi
oceseofAmerica:www.calendar.goarch.org

ServicesatStMartin'sinAugust*
Sat.6th

10:00

HoursandHolyLiturgycelebratingtheFeastofthe
TransfigurationofourLordandGreatVespersat2pm.
Sun.7th
10:00 HoursandHolyLiturgy
Sat.13th
13:00 Confessions,SynaxarionandGreatVespers
Sun.14th 10:00 HoursandHolyLiturgycelebratingtheDormitionof
ourMostHolyTheotokos
Mon.15th

Noliturgytoday!
Sat.20th
13:00 Confessions,SynaxarionandGreatVespers
Sun.21st
10:00 HoursandHolyLiturgy
Sat.27th
13:00 Confessions,SynaxarionandGreatVespers
Sun.28th 10:00 HoursandHolyLiturgyfollowedbyParishlunch
*Helpsettingupthechurchisgreatlyappreciatedandstartsfrom9.30a.m.

Godcaresforeveryone.Despairisineffectalackoffaith
St.GeorgeKarslides

Forfurtherinformationpleasecontact:
FatherJonathanHemmings
67SibseyStr.,Fairfield,Lancaster,LA15DQ
Tel:+441524840759,+441524580600
Email:frjah@yahoo.co.uk
www.orthodoxlancaster.org.uk
www.antiochianorthodox.co.uk

TopandbottomsketchesarecreatedattheHolyMonasteryofTheAnnunciationoftheTheotokosChios,Greece,courtesyofFrTheodosiosDendrinos,Ithaca,Greece.
ThesketchofChristbyPhotisKontoglouwasscannedfromtheOrthodoxcalendaroftheApostolikiDiakoniaoftheChurchofGreece.